Boat washing apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

two parallel elongated floating support means define a pathway for a boat. Powered brushing members are carried by double jointed arms that are anchored to the floating support means. Said powered brushing members are spring biased to conform to the various shapes of boats that are passed through the pathway and clean algae, barnacle spores and the like from the submerged portion of the boats.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [72]Inventor Norman C. Locati 1714 Meadow Drive, Lake Oswego, Oreg.

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mm m wwmm n n n CP mm u m 0 n aa mmm CV 3 69 MJ n. 66 r 99 6 e fl .m 15m mR 4 E 2M E w 73 0 m 24 m bo nmn 33 FAA 4J wa mo s 98MF AFP [54] BOATWASHING APPARATUS AND METHOD ABSTRACT: Two parallel elongated floatingsupport means 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

define a pathway for a boat. Powered brushing members are carried bydouble jointed arms that are anchored to the float 15/1 .7 ing supportmeans. Said powered brushing members are spring 1363b 59/00 biased toconform to the various shapes of boats that are 1 14/222; passed throughthe pathway and clean algae, barnacle spores 15/1 7 and the like fromthe submerged portion of the boats.

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PATENTED FEB 9:971.

SHEET 1 OF- 2 Mmvme #0171!!! 6? Man a, WHXX HISTORY This inventionrelates to an apparatus and method for rapidly and thoroughly cleaningthe outside normally submerged surface of a boat while the boat remainsin the water.

A problem that has long been encountered by boat owners is the necessityof periodically cleaning the outer surface of the boat. Boats that areused in rivers and oceans are particularly susceptible to becomingcoated below the waterline with bamacles and algae. This coating buildsup to produce resistance that slows the boatand is offensive both tosight and smell. Heretofore, when the boat needed cleaning, it had to bedry docked where conventional land based cleaning methods could beapplied; e.g., as by steam cleaning. Dry docking a boat and cleaningwith such conventional methods is both time consuming, expensive, andinjuriousto the boat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The preferred embodiment ofthepresent invention is believed to provide a boat cleaning apparatusthat is substantial improvement over known prior boat cleaningapparatus. In general, said embodiment is comprised of a support frameadapted to float on water including a pair of spaced parallel buoyantsupport beams defining a channel through which a boat can be passed. Aconveyor means is provided to automatically move the boatthroughcleaning stations provided in the channel. A first stationincludes a first set of brushes that cleans the bottom and back surfacesof the boat. A second station includes a second set of brushes thatcleans the front and sides of the boat. The brushes are mounted to thefloating support beams and are therefore positioned in substantiallyfixed relationship to the water level. The brushes can thus bemaintained in the desired position relative to the waterline of a boatso that the cleaning action of the brushes can be accurately directed tothe contaminated surface. The brushes are preferrably abrasiveimpregnated for optimum cleaning and they are carried by support armsthat are double jointed and spring biased so that the brushes willreadily conform to the various shapes and sizes of boats.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparentby reference to the following detailed description and drawings wherein.

FIG. 1 is a perspectiveview illustrating a boat being drawn through aboat cleaning apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the first set of cleaning brushes as takenfrom lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the brushes as taken from lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the brushes as taken from lines 4-4 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the second set of cleaning brushes as takenfrom lines 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view of one of the brushes as taken from lines 6-6 ofFIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view as taken from lines 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings, a main structure 10 includes a pair ofelongated pontoons 12 maintained on the surface of a body of water inspaced parallel relationship by interconnecting braces 14. The brace 14is bowed as shown or otherwise shaped to provide a central relief areawith a depth below the water of about 6 feet to permit boats travelingin the water to pass through the passageway defined by the pontoons 12.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a first cleaning station is provided by a pairof substantially horizontally oriented brushes 16individually carried bycarrier arms 18 that are pivotally mounted to brackets 17 provided onthe pontoons 12. As shown, when the arms 18 are pivoted, the brushes 16are forced into the water. The brushes can be buoyant so that there is aconstant pressure to raise the brushes, or in absence of such buoyancy,any suitable spring means can be provided.

A yoke 20 is pivotally attached through a rotatable connecting member 19to the free end of each of the arms 18. The yoke 20 is adapted to pivoton a axis longitudinally of, and the connecting member 19 is adapted torotate about an axis laterally of, the pathway defined by the pontoons.Springs 21 and 23 are adapted to continuously urge the brushes 16 heldby the yoke 20 in its horizontal position as shown in FIG. 4, withtilting of the brushes permitted for maximum contact with the bottomsurface of the boat as illustrated in FIG. 2. A hydraulic or similartype motor 22 rotatively drives the brushes 16 (See FIG. 2).

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5-7, a second cleaning station is provided by apair of substantially vertically oriented brushes 24. For each brush 24,parallel arms 26 have one end pivotally mounted to a bracket 27 providedon the pontoons 12. The brushes 24 are mounted to a pivotal connectingmember 28 at the end of the parallel arm 26 and a spring 29 pivotallyurges the brushes toward a boat passing between the brushes. Theparallel arms 26 are urged by any conventional means to a positionsubstantially perpendicular to the pontoons and are pivoted as shown indotted lines in FIG. 6 to permit a boat to pass. As will also be noted,by reason of the parallel arms, the orientation of the connecting member28 is always such as to urge the brushes toward the side of the boat andthereby provide maximum surface contact therewith. Motors 30 producescounter rotative movement to the brushes 24 for cleaning the side of theboat.

As generally illustrated in FIG. I, a conveyor system is provided by anendless chain 32 (or cable or the like) that is mounted on a driveroller 34, return roller 36, and idler rollers 38, which are mounted onto a carrier deck 39 provided on one of the pontoons 12. A conveyor arm40 is fastened to the chain 32. The conveyor arm 40 is preferablymaintained substantially perpendicular to the travel of the chain and isthus of rigid construction and braced by braces 41. A hook 42 isprovided on the free end of the arm, and is adapted to travelsubstantially down the middle of the pathway defined by the pontoons asthe chain is driven by the drive roller 34.

OPERATION In operation, a boat is maneuvered into position whereby thebook 42 of the conveyor arm 40 can be engaged with the docking handlenormally providedon the front of the boat. The drive roller drives thechain and conveyor arm attached thereto to pull the boat past the firstcleaning station. The boat is driven against brushes 16 which pivotdownwardly as shown in FIG. 4 to permit the boat to be pulled over thebrushes. The brushes are urged upwardly to produce the desired pressureand the brushes are driven in counter rotative movement with respect tothe boat for optimum scrubbing of the contacted bottom surface of theboat. The pivotal freedom of the yoke enables the brushes to conform tothe configuration of the boat whereby the agitating movement of the twobrushes substantially covers the entire bottom surface as the boat ispassed over the brushes. As mentioned previously, an abrasiveimpregnated brush is deemed desirable for removing the tenuous materialaccumulated thereon. As the boat passes over the brushes the arms areurged upwardly and the brushes engage and clean the back of the boat asshown in FIG. 4.

As the boat passes into the second cleaning station, the pointed bow ofthe boat is inserted between the brushes 24 and forces them apart, thisbeing permitted by the pivotal connection of arms 26 with the pontoons12. The spring 29 urging the brushes 24 about the pivotal connection 28causes the brushes 24 to conform to the slanted side of the boat andthereby direct its cleaning action over substantially the entire side ofthe boat.

It will be understood that the above described apparatus is intended toillustrate the invention and not to limit it. Thus, for example,numerous variations of brushes, the configuration of the brushes and themeans for enabling the brushes to conform to a boat may be'made withoutdeparting from the invention. Other variations and modifications willoccur to those skilled in the art upon becoming aware of the inventionand the scope is thus to be determined in accordance with the followingclaims.

lclaim:

l. A cleaning apparatus for boats comprising; a support member, ascrubbing apparatus mounted on the support member, means for drawing aboat to be cleaned alongside the support member and past the scrubbingapparatus, said scrubbing apparatus including; a carrier arm, a firstpivotal means pivotally mounting one end of the carrier arm to thesupport member, a scrubbing member having a scrubbing work surface, asecond pivotal means pivotally mounting the scrubbing member to theopposite end of the carrier arm, first biasing means biasing the carrierarm about said first pivotal means to pivot the scrubbing member towardthe boat to be cleaned, and a second biasing means biasing the scrubbingwork surface of the scrubbing member about said second pivotal means topivotally conform the scrubbing work surface to the contour of the boatand agitating means for agitating the scrubbing work surface of thescrubbing member.

2. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means fororienting the second pivotal means for pivoting the scrubbing member inthe same direction at every pivotal position of the carrier arm.

3. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the support memberis comprised of a pair of elongated pontoons supported in the water andmaintained in spaced apart relationship to define a pathway for theboats, and rigid braces separating the pontoons, said braces being bowedto pass under the water and under the pathway.

4. A cleaning apparatus for boats as defined in claim 1 wherein ascrubbing apparatus is mounted on each pontoon to simultaneously cleanopposite sides of the boat, and said scrubbing members including acylindrical brush mounted on its longitudinal axis for rotative movementand said agitating means including a rotative driving means torotatively drive the cylindrical brush.

5. A cleaning apparatus for boats comprising a pair of parallel pontoonsspaced from each other to define a pathway. means for drawing a boatthrough the pathway, a first scrubbing apparatus including a front pairof carrier arms. connecting means connecting a carrier arm of said firstpair to each pontoon opposite one another and normally extended acrossthe pathway, said connecting means for each said carrier arm comprisinga pivotal connection for pivoting the carrier arm in a horizontal plane,a scrubbing member carried by the end of each carrier arm for scrubbingthe side of a boat passing through the pathway, and biasing means forbiasing each scrubbing member laterally in said horizontal plane towardthe side of the boat; a second scrubbing apparatus spaced from the firstscrubbing apparatus including a second pair of carrier arms, connectingmeans connecting a carrier arm of said second pair to each pontoonopposite one another and extended across the pathway, said connectingmeans for each carrier arm comprising a pivotal connection for pivotingthe carrier arm in a vertical plane, a scrubbing member carried by theend of each carrier arm for scrubbing the bottom of the boat passingthrough the pathway, and biasing means biasing the brushes upwardly insaid vertical plane against the boat bottom.

6. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the means fordrawing the boat is comprised of an endless conveyor that engages a boatand draws the boat through the pathway defined by the pontoons and pastthe first and second cleaning apparatus positioned therein.

7. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the scrubbingmembers are comprised of abrasive impregnated brushes mounted to theends of the supporting arms for rotative movement, said power meansproviding rotative movement to the brushes, and said pivotal movement ofthe brushes being provided by a pivotal connection of the brushes to thearms, said ivotal connection having its ivotal axis substantially coexenslve with the pathway de med by the parallel pontoons.

1. A cleaning apparatus for boats comprising; a support member, ascrubbing apparatus mounted on the support member, means for drawing aboat to be cleaned alongside the support member and past the scrubbingapparatus, said scrubbing apparatus including; a carrier arm, a firstpivotal means pivotally mounting one end of the carrier arm to thesupport member, a scrubbing member having a scrubbing work surface, asecond pivotal means pivotally mounting the scrubbing member to theopposite end of the carrier arm, first biasing means biasing the carrierarm about said first pivotal means to pivot the scrubbing member towardthe boat to be cleaned, and a second biasing means biasing the scrubbingwork surface of the scrubbing member about said second pivotal means topivotally conform the scrubbing work surface to the contour of the boatand agitating means for agitating the scrubbing work surface of thescrubbing member.
 2. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1including means for orienting the second pivotal means for pivoting thescrubbing member in the same direction at every pivotal position of thecarrier arm.
 3. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein thesupport member is comprised of a pair of elongated pontoons supported inthe water and maintained in spaced apart relationship to define apathway for the boats, and rigid braces separating the pontoons, saidbraces being bowed to pass under the water and under the pathway.
 4. Acleaning apparatus for boats as defined in claim 1 wherein a scrubbingapparatus is mounted on each pontoon to simultaneously clean oppositesides of the boat, and said scrubbing members including a cylindricalbrush mounted on its longitudinal axis for rotative movement and saidagitating means including a rotative driving means to rotatively drivethe cylindrical brush.
 5. A cleaning apparatus for boats comprising apair of parallel pontoons spaced from each other to define a pathway,means for drawing a boat through the pathway, a first scrubbingapparatus including a front pair of carrier arms, connecting meansconnecting a carrier arm of said first pair to each pontoon opposite oneanother and normally extended across the pathway, said connecting meansfor each said carrier arm comprising a pivotal connection for pivotingthe carrier arm in a horizontal plane, a scrubbing member carried by theend of each carrier arm for scrubbing the side of a boat passing throughthe pathway, and biasing means for biasing each scrubbing memberlaterally in said horizontal plane toward the side of the boat; a secondscrubbing apparatus spaced from the first scrubbing apparatus includinga second pair of carrier arms, connecting means connecting a carrier armof said second pair to each pontoon opposite one another and extendedacross the pathway, said connecting means for each carrier armcomprising a pivotal connection for pivoting the carrier arm in avertical plane, a scrubbing Member carried by the end of each carrierarm for scrubbing the bottom of the boat passing through the pathway,and biasing means biasing the brushes upwardly in said vertical planeagainst the boat bottom.
 6. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 5wherein the means for drawing the boat is comprised of an endlessconveyor that engages a boat and draws the boat through the pathwaydefined by the pontoons and past the first and second cleaning apparatuspositioned therein.
 7. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 6wherein the scrubbing members are comprised of abrasive impregnatedbrushes mounted to the ends of the supporting arms for rotativemovement, said power means providing rotative movement to the brushes,and said pivotal movement of the brushes being provided by a pivotalconnection of the brushes to the arms, said pivotal connection havingits pivotal axis substantially coextensive with the pathway defined bythe parallel pontoons.